Philip Hammond hints he’ll be a ‘nightmare’ to Johnson from the backbenches

Chancellor Philip Hammond has said he does not expect to serve in a Boris Johnson-led Cabinet as he signalled he will be a "nightmare" to the front runner in the Tory leadership race over a no-deal Brexit .

Mr Hammond insisted he would use the Commons backbenches to "vigorously" battle any attempt at withdrawing from the EU without a deal.

Asked if he would jump before he was pushed if Mr Johnson takes the Tory crown in two weeks' time, Mr Hammond told ITV's Peston: "My expectation is that I will not be serving in the next administration.

"But, I want to say this because I read some stuff in the papers earlier this week about how I would be a nightmare on the backbenches.

"I will continue to argue vigorously against a no-deal Brexit.

"And I will certainly do everything I can to prevent a no-deal Brexit without parliamentary approval."

The pointed comments came after Mr Johnson was put on notice to expect a legal battle with former prime minister Sir John Major if he tries to suspend Parliament in order to force through a no-deal Brexit.

Former Conservative leader Sir John said it would be "utterly and totally unacceptable" for any British premier to shut down Parliament, and he would seek a judicial review if it happened.

Mr Johnson dismissed Sir John's "very odd" threat of being dragged through the courts, insisting that Parliament should accept its responsibility to deliver Brexit.

But he has refused to rule out proroguing Parliament to prevent MPs blocking a no-deal exit from the European Union on October 31.

The Tory leadership campaign front runner said: "What we are going to do is deliver Brexit on October 31, which is what I think the people of this country want us to get on and do.

"I think everybody is fed up with delay and I think the idea of now consecrating this decision to the judiciary is really very, very odd indeed.

"What we want is for Parliament to take their responsibilities, get it done as they promised that they would.

"They asked the British people whether they wanted to leave in 2016, the British people returned a very clear verdict, so let's get it done."

Mr Hammond said: "I think there is a group of members of Parliament who feel very, very strongly about this.

"If anyone were foolish enough to try to prorogue Parliament then I'm sure there will be action in the courts.